Hearts of Iron III

17 Turn-Based Strat games like Hearts of Iron III that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Hearts of Iron III down to the 17 that fit the “Turn-Based Strat” category. Europa Universalis IV, Victoria II and Europa Universalis III top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Hearts of Iron III.

iRank80/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

Tags

HardcoreSoloMultiplayer

Year 2009Dev Paradox Interactive

Stores

Steam ↗GOG ↗

Quick answer

Within the “Turn-Based Strat” category, the closest game to Hearts of Iron III is Europa Universalis IV — scoring 89/100 on our similarity scale. Victoria II and Europa Universalis III follow close behind.

#1Europa Universalis IV89 #2Victoria II81 #3Europa Universalis III79 #4Total War: Shogun 276 #5Rome: Total War68

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The best turn-Based Strat games like Hearts of Iron III

17 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Hearts of Iron III. Each one has been evaluated across 12 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Europa Universalis IVClosest overall match

89

Europa Universalis IV

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalSandbox WorldHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 88%· 136KRAWG👍 83%· 396MC87IGDB85· 2

Year 2013Dev Paradox Development Studio · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~6hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, deep simulation and turn-based strategy

≠ Where it differs: brings open world exploration, fantasy world and setting medieval, while skipping punishing difficulty

Europa Universalis IV is a global strategy game developed by Paradox Interactive. It is the fifth game in the series, not counting the add-ons. ###Gameplay The game can take place at any time starting from the late Middle Age to the Napolean Wars era.

Released 4 years after Hearts of Iron III.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting69World64

#2Victoria IIClosest on setting

81

Victoria II

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalSandbox WorldHistorical

Steam👍 92%· 20KIGDB76· 1

Year 2010Dev Paradox InteractiveOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and deep simulation

≠ Stands apart with resource management, while skipping punishing difficulty

Same studio: Paradox Interactive.

Genre100Combat100Setting100World100Game mode73

#3Europa Universalis III

79

Europa Universalis III

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerSandbox WorldHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 83%· 2.0KIGDB70· 1

Year 2007Dev Paradox InteractiveOn PC · Mac

✓ Nearly identical: real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and sandbox freedom.

≠ Missing: punishing difficulty.

Same studio: Paradox Interactive.

Genre100Setting100World100Visuals100Game mode73

#4Total War: Shogun 2

76

Total War: Shogun 2

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 92%· 67KIGDB88· 4

Year 2011Dev The Creative Assembly · SegaOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and deep simulation

≠ Stands apart with ranged combat and setting medieval, while skipping sandbox freedom

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Combat80Setting77

#5Rome: Total War

68

Rome: Total War

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 95%· 17KIGDB91· 3

Year 2004Dev The Creative Assembly · SegaOn Android · PC · iOS

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and deep simulation

≠ Its own twist: melee combat and ranged combat, while skipping sandbox freedom

Genre100Setting100Visuals100Game mode73Combat72

#6Commander: Conquest of the Americas

66

Commander: Conquest of the Americas

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalHistoricalFantasy

Steam👍 52%· 188MC68

Year 2010Dev Nitro GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and turn-based strategy

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, fantasy world and resource management, while skipping sandbox freedom

Combining elements from both trading and strategy games, Commander: Conquest of the Americas will appeal to a wide range of players. Players take charge of one of the many European powers aiming to conquer the New World.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against mostly positive for Hearts of Iron III.

Genre100Combat100Setting83Game mode71

#7Medieval II: Total War

66

Medieval II: Total War

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 96%· 36KIGDB90· 3

Year 2006Dev The Creative Assembly · SegaOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and turn-based strategy

≠ Where it differs: brings melee combat, ranged combat and setting medieval, while skipping sandbox freedom

Genre100Visuals100Game mode73Combat72Setting62

#8East India Company

65

East India Company

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalHistoricalMedieval

Steam👍 52%· 205MC67

Year 2009Dev Nitro GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, deep simulation and turn-based strategy

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, setting medieval and fantasy world, while skipping sandbox freedom

In East India Company, players will enjoy building the World's most powerful trading empire & engaging in vigorous battles in both single player & multiplayer modes, all within a breathtaking cinematic game environment.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against mostly positive for Hearts of Iron III.

Genre100Combat100Game mode72Setting57

#9Total War: THREE KINGDOMS

68

Total War: THREE KINGDOMS

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 82%· 93KRAWG👍 78%· 169MC85IGDB82· 6OC85· 70

Year 2019Dev Feral Interactive · SEGAPlaytime ~10hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Nearly identical: real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and combat tactical.

≠ Missing: deep simulation.

The year is 190CE. China is in turmoil. The Han Dynasty crumbles before the child-emperor. He is but a figurehead; a mere puppet for the tyrant warlord Dong Zhuo. It is a brutal and oppressive regime, and as Dong Zhuo’s power grows, the empire slips further into the cauldron of anarchy.

Released 10 years after Hearts of Iron III.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Setting100Visuals100

#10Empire: Total War

67

Empire: Total War

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 91%· 38KIGDB90· 6

Year 2009Dev The Creative Assembly · SegaOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ Both are real-time strategy games — sharing real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: melee combat and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Combat87Setting80

#11Total War: Attila

62

Total War: Attila

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 82%· 37KIGDB77· 10OC79· 47

Year 2015Dev The Creative Assembly · SegaOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with strong narrative focus, melee combat and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Hearts of Iron III: tone.

Released 6 years after Hearts of Iron III.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Combat94Setting71Tone0

#12Total War: WARHAMMER II

62

Total War: WARHAMMER II

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 93%· 121KRAWG👍 90%· 251MC86IGDB88· 8OC86· 64

Year 2017Dev Creative Assembly · SEGAPlaytime ~14hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

Millennia ago, besieged by a Chaos invasion, a conclave of High Elf mages forged a vast, arcane vortex. Its purpose was to draw the Winds of Magic from the world as a sinkhole drains an ocean, and blast the Daemonic hordes back to the Realm of Chaos.

Where it drifts furthest from Hearts of Iron III: tone.

Released 8 years after Hearts of Iron III.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Combat88Setting74Tone0

#13Ironclad Tactics

60

Ironclad Tactics

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalHistorical

Steam👍 69%· 625MC69IGDB65· 2

Year 2013Dev ZachtronicsPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Android

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with card game strategy, vibe casual and setting scifi, while skipping deep simulation

Ironclad Tactics is a fast-paced, card-based tactics game set in an alternate history Civil War - with steam-powered military robots!Key Features:Includes the 'Rise of Dmitry' and 'Blood and Ironclads' add-on campaigns! No microtransactions!

Where it drifts furthest from Hearts of Iron III: tone.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against mostly positive for Hearts of Iron III.

Released 4 years after Hearts of Iron III.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Setting63Tone0

Steam PS itch.io

#14Napoleon: Total War

59

Napoleon: Total War

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 92%· 27KIGDB83· 3

Year 2010Dev The Creative Assembly · Feral InteractiveOn PC · Mac

✓ Same family of real-time strategy games: real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with melee combat and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

Genre100Visuals100Combat87Setting81Game mode73

#15Star Wars: Empire at War

58

Star Wars: Empire at War

GenreStrategySubgenreRTS

SoloMultiplayerTacticalHistoricalIsometric

Steam👍 98%· 42KIGDB73· 2

Year 2006Dev Petroglyph Games · LucasArtsOn PC · Mac

✓ Fits the real-time strategy games cluster, with real-time strategy, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with melee combat, setting scifi and setting space, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Hearts of Iron III: setting.

Genre100Visuals100Combat88Game mode73Setting49

Complete list of turn-Based Strat games like Hearts of Iron III

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Hearts of Iron III, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

Shogun: Total War

Shogun: Total War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

Medieval: Total War

Medieval: Total War

RTS · Turn-Based Strat

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